Cloth-finishing apparatus



July-6,1926. 1,591,851

J. MACADAM l-TAL 01.01511 F1111 same APPARATUS Filed April 1, 192-5 J IG 'I v 5 INVENTOR:

John IYTacadam& William Barr ORNEYS.

Patented duty l fi.

barren sr'rs arr JOHN MACADAM AND WELLIAll-E OF "WILMINGTON, DELAVIARE, ASSIGNORS TO JOSELH BANCROFE. 6e SOTETS POB-ATION GE DELAWARE.

co, osnocirroan, WILMINGTON, DELAWARE, A son- GLG'IH-FINISI-IING AIPPARATUS.

Application filed April 1, 1&25. Serial 1*4'0. 19.775.

The main objects of our invention are to improve the finish of teXtiles'bot-h with regard to surface appearance, and feel, and to provide a. reliable and efficient apparatus by which the aforesaid operation may be accomplished in a rapid continuous manner.

' ()ther objects and attendant advantages will become readily apparent from the detailed description hereinafter of a typical embodiment of our inventionshown in the drawings, whereof,--

Fig. I is a perspective view of our improved cloth finishing apparatus.

Fig. II is a sectional view of a portion of the apparatus taken as indicated by the arrows 11-11 in Fig. I.

Fig. III is a transverse sectional view taken asindicated by the arrows IH-IH in Fig. I.

Fig. 1V is afragmentary view showing the arrangement of the cloth-engaging instrumentalities; and,-

Fig. V is a cross sectional view tairen as indicated by the arrows V-V in Fig. IV.

Referring first to the complete illustration of the apparatus depicted in l, B indicates the bolt of cloth which is to be treated, said bolt being sustained for free rotation in an appropriate mounting 10 (011% prising a base board 11 w'th spaced upstanding brackets 12 to take the ends of the beam 13 whereou the cloth C is wound. The cloth C is continuously drawn from the bolt B by a cooperating pair of inter-geared pinch or draft rolls 14-1.5, which, after common practice, are journalled in end standards 16 and adapted to be driven by a power pulley 1'2".

Stationed in the spacial interval between the mounting 10 for the bolt B and the draft rolls 1415, is a mechanism 18 through which the cloth C is passed for snrface finishing in accordance with our invention. The elongated supporting frame of this mechanism 18 extends transversely of the path of the cloth C, and comprises a comparatively broad channel member 19 that is sustained at a suitable elevation from the floor, by end pedestals 2O conveniently formed to the configuration shown from fiat bar metal. Located somewhat to the front of the channel member 19 and likewise sup ported by the pedestals 20, a tracker bar 21, with its top surface rounded to facilitate passage thereover of the cloth C in the manner illustrates. in Figs. 1 and H. In the present instance, the bar 21 is conventionally represented as being constructed of wood and formed with a longi ndinallyextending groove for retaininent of an inset strip which may be of metal, glass, rubber or ether material depending on the nature of the fabric being treated and the finish desired.

With the tracker bar 21 cooperate an aligned row or series of cloth engaging instrumentalities 23, which from their general appearance and mode of operation may be conveniently termed tappet hammers. These tappet hammers 23 are mounted for free pivotal movement upon a universal axis rod 2d stationarily supported by brackets secured along the forward flange 19 of the channel 19 of the frame 18 aforesaid.

The tails 26 of the hammers are acted upon by individually-associated rotary eccentric cams 27 with capacity for adjustment, on a common actuating shaft 28, a retractile spring 29 being employed in connection w 1h each hammer to oppose its displacement by the corresponding car. The shaft 28 is journalled in appropriate bearings 30 secured along the rear flange 19 of the c iannel 19; and said shaft is driven through a belt connection 31 with the draft rolls'1 l-15 so that the hammers 23 are intermittently vibrated vertically incidentally to the travel of the cloth C, their heads 52 impounding upon the top surface of the cloth as it moves across inset strip 22 of the tracker bar 21. From Figs. I, H and V it will be noted that the cloth engaging faces 32 of hammer heads 32 are concaved to conform accurately with the crown of the inset strip 22, and from Figs. IV and V, that said heads are stepped at 33 so that provinces of the faces 32 overlap, thereby avoiding breaks in the aggregate area which they constitute collectively, and insuring contact with the whoie width of the passing cloth. It is to be further noted from Fig. IV that the hammer faces 32 are cross grooved as indicated at 34, the longitudinal grooves being aligned as shown for the purpose of continuity. For convenience of interchangeability, the heads 32 are preferably made separate and detachable from. the arms of the hammers 23. These heads 32 are, accordingly, provided with ears S5 spaced to take th ends of the hammer arms, and screws 36 are employed as the means to fasten them.

In practice as the cloth C is continuously drawn over the tracker bar 21, it is acted upon by the tappet hammers 23 which are intermittently elevated and depressed by eoordinative operation of the associated rotary cams 27 and springs 29. At each such actuation of the hammers, the faces 32 of the hammer heads are brought into forcible contact with the cloth, and by virtue of the concurrent reaction of the tracker bar 21, both surfaces of the cloth are more or less similarly affected. In the case of cotton and linen goods, the above treatment results in a lustrous finish, a softer and thicker feel, and a generally improved appearance as of being more closely woven. Variations in the treatment may be had by adjusting the rotary cams 2T angularly so that successive intermittent action of the tappet hammers is secured with a wave like movement of the series after the manner shown in Fig. H1, or by substitution of hammer heads characterized by obliquely or otherwise disposed face groovings. Also, if a more extensive treatment is desired, several rows of tappet hammers may obviously be employed for successive operation upon the cloth surface without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

By those skilled in the finishing of web materials, it will be readily appreciated from the inherent simplicity of our improved cloth finishing apparatus, that the same may be run at very high speeds without impairing the effectiveness of the treatment.

Having thus described our invention, we claim:

1. A cloth finishing apparatus comprising an aligned series of tappet hammers adapted to operate upon the cloth surface, the engaging faces of said hammers being cross grooved and overlapping each others provinces, and means to actuate said hammers.

2. A cloth finishing apparatus comprising a row of tappet hamme disposed transversely over traveling cloth and adapted to operate upon the surface of the latter, the faces of said hammers being cross-grooved and overlapping each others provinces, and rotary eccentric means to actuate said hammers.

3. A cloth finishing apparatus con'iprising an aligned series of tappct hammers adapted to operate upon the cloth surface, the engaging faces of said hannners being crossgrooved and overlapping each others provinces, and means to actuate said hammers with a wave-like motion of the series.

4-. A cloth finishing apparatus connu'ising spaced pedestals all'ording common support for a tracker bar and a series of cooperative tappet hammers adapted to operate upon the cloth surface, the engaging faces of the hammers being cross-grooved and their adjacent ends stepped to overlap each other's provinces, and rotary eccentric means for individually actuating said hammers;

5. A. cloth finishing tll lptlliltllfg comprising spaced pedestals .aliording common support for a tracker bar and a series of cooperative tappet han'imers pivoted on a universal axis and adapted to operate upon the cloth surface, the engaging faces of said hammers being cross-grooved and their adjacent ends stepped to overlap each other's provinces, and rotary eccentrics secured with capacity for adjustment on a common shaft for individually actuating the lltllllll'lQl'S aforesaid.

6. A cloth finishing apparatus comprising spaced pedestals affording common support for a tracker bar and a series of co operative tappet hammers pivoted on a universal axis and adapted to operate upon the cloth surface, the engaging faces of said hamn'iers being cross-grooved and their adjacent ends relatively stepped to overlap each others provinces, and rotary eccentrics secured on a connnon shaft with capacity for relative adjustment whereby the hammers may be coordinated for actuation with a wave-like motion for the St 'ies.

T A cloth finishing apparatus comprising spaced pedesta s a ti'ording common support for a tracker bar and a series of cooperative tappert hammers pivoted on a universal a1"; the engaging faces of said hammers being cross-grooved and their ends relatively stepped to overlap each others prm'iuces, and rotary eccentrics for individually actuating said hammers.

In testimony whereof, we have hereunto signed our names, at \Yilmington. illelau'are, this 23d day of March, 1925.

JOHN MACADA). \YILLIAM BERRY. 

